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Storm & Bushfire Preparation Checklist: 6 Essential Steps to Get Your Home Ready

If there’s one thing we know about Australian weather, it’s that it can change in an instant. From intense summer storms to the threat of bushfires, our homes and outdoor spaces face some of the toughest conditions on earth. While we can’t control what nature brings, we can take proactive steps to protect the places we love and ensure our families and properties stay safe when the weather turns.

At Spanline, we’ve been helping Australians create strong, weather-smart home additions for over 40 years. From patios and carports to verandahs and enclosures, our designs are built with durability and protection in mind, because safeguarding your home, lifestyle, and investment matters.

Whether it’s preparing for heavy rain, hail, strong winds, or bushfire conditions, being ready isn’t just about precaution, it’s about peace of mind. A few simple steps now can make all the difference when the unexpected strikes.

Here’s our 6-step checklist to help prepare your home and outdoor area before the next storm:

Alfresco Enclosure Ideas


1. Check and Secure Your Home

  • Inspect your roof for loose tiles, screws, or flashing.
  • Clear gutters and downpipes to prevent blockages.
  • Make sure patios, decks and carports are securely anchored and in good condition.
  • Tighten bolts, replace rusted fittings, and check that everything meets local wind ratings.


2. Tidy Up Your Outdoors

  • Trim trees and overhanging branches near your home or fence line.
  • Secure or store outdoor furniture, umbrellas, and planters before high winds hit.
  • Make sure sheds and fences are well fastened and won’t come loose in a storm.


3. Prepare for Heavy Rain

  • Check drainage paths and stormwater outlets, they should flow freely away from your home.
  • In low-lying areas, use sandbags or flood guards to direct water.
  • Move valuables and electrical items off the floor in case of flash flooding.


4. Protect Against Hail and Wind

  • Move vehicles under cover, a garage or carport can prevent thousands in hail damage.
  • Tie down or store loose items that could become airborne.
  • Consider impact-resistant roofing materials for long-term protection.


5. Prepare for Heat and Bushfire

  • Mow lawns short and remove dry leaves or grass clippings.
  • Clean gutters to remove flammable debris.
  • Check windows, screens, and door seals for ember protection.


6. Review Insurance and Safety Plans

  • Review your home and contents insurance to ensure you’re covered for storm, flood and hail.
  • Keep a storm emergency kit with torches, batteries, first-aid supplies and documents.
  • Have an evacuation plan for family and pets, just in case.

Alfresco Enclosure Ideas

Be Ready, Not Reactive

Preparation today means peace of mind tomorrow.

Before the summer storms roll in, take the time to ensure your home and the outdoor spaces you love are ready for whatever the season brings.

At Spanline, our patios, carports, and enclosures are engineered to stand up to Australia’s toughest conditions. Each structure is strength-tested, certified, and built to last, providing lasting protection and year-round confidence, no matter the weather.

john presland
3 days ago
We are very happy to have chosen Spanline to replace our back verandah. They have supplied a very good product & we can't fault the workmanship. The two guys on the job were pleasant to have around. John & Kerry Presland, Kew, NSW.
Thanks Spanline ACT for making our "vision" from 6 years ago into a reality! My garden studio/sunroom was completed by Spanline recently in June 2026 after initial contact in January 2026. It took us awhile to get our plans into place because we were disappointed with other companies for not being helpful and we also lack the expert knowledge. Overall: Spanline made everything easy for us from start to finish. Everyone we encountered with Spanline are wonderful and have great customer service skills! We would like to acknowledge everyone involved in the project: Peter - was our "go-to" from start to finish. Peter showed us the showroom, did the visits, the planning, approvals and the blueprint. Peter goes above and beyond by being approachable/contactable if we have concerns by connecting us with the appropriate persons for the job. Peter explains technicalities in simpler terms which is extremely helpful for us being ESL and having no industry knowledge. Thanks for making everything easy for us Peter! Bede - did all the transport of the materials and rubbish, everything was handled with care. Bede just like the other Spanline guys is approachable and friendly. Sebastian - the project manager or the expert problem solver, there were issues but Sebastian always have a solution for everything. Thank you for being attentive to our questions and concerns. Janno - did most of the construction of the project, Janno has remarkable and professional handiwork. Janno listens to our concerns and questions. Janno is respectful by always checking with us first before doing the installations e.g location of windows or doors. There had been leaks in our sunroom, Janno has been coming over to assess and repair until we are leak-free. Aside from being highly competent and professional at the job, Janno is warm and friendly to our neighbors, our family and pets while working on-site. Thanks Janno! Claudia - thanks for the calls and for updating with what is happening with the projects. We will miss your warm and friendly voice!
Peter Williams
1 week ago
Spanline did a fabulous job on our covered pagoda in on time and very professional. Peter and Heather.
Photo from customer review
Deb Hall
1 week ago
I recently had a patio installed by Spanline Mid Coast at my home in Bonny Hills and couldn’t be happier with the result. A big thank you to Jamie for his great advice and professional service throughout the process and to Josh for his outstanding workmanship and attention to detail. The whole experience was smooth from start to finish, and the finished patio looks fantastic. I highly recommend Spanline Mid Coast to anyone looking for a quality outdoor addition.
Photo from customer review
Cheryle Duff
2 weeks ago
Adam was very professional and skilful. He was very friendly and informed us of any issues. A couple of days he was late but made up for it. The bad wind was a set back but Adam handled it very safety and professionally.
Honey Nelson
2 weeks ago
So far I have just had a visit, assessment and quote from Scott Basman from Spanline, for alterations to my home. I found Scott very informative, attentive, and has plenty of ideas, and gives sound reasons for his recommendations. I would certainly invite his opinion and quote for quality work.
Kerry McElevey
2 weeks ago
We recently had an opening roof and verandah extension done by Spanline and are very happy with the result. We have a Solar passive house and wanted an addition which was in keeping with our needs. Getting the winter sun into our house is very important to us and Spanline were very respectful of our needs. There were a few hiccups along the way during the build but Spanline were always quick to resolve any issues that came up. We cannot praise Dean our tradie onsite highly enough. He was always very professional and considerate of our needs. Thank you Spanline team.
Carol Thorning
2 weeks ago
Spanline did a wonderful job, the trade people were on time and very courteous. I am very happy with the new awning over my deck and would recommend Spanline.
Merrilyn Turner
3 weeks ago
Jamie gave great advice in suggesting that I could have new Insulated Roof Panels installed to the existing posts as they were sturdy, and it would save me money. The new panels look so good and will be much cooler in summer months, and also much quieter when it pours raining. Aaron was fantastic with the installation, from arrival to completion he was courteous. He cleaned up and removed rubbish after each stage of the work. Aaron is a very experienced builder. I am extremely happy with the finished roofing and Spanline was easy to communicate with, from the quoting process with Jamie to completion of the installation.
mark Summerfield
3 weeks ago
A big thank you to Nick, Frank, Jeff and the team at Spanline Illawarra. We had a room built onto the back of our house that has doubled our living area and we couldn’t be happier with the end result. It would be fair to say they exceeded our expectations. Frank came out and listened to what we wanted and with his experience in the industry provided suggestions on further improvements and design. Frank took care of all the approvals and this gave us pieces of mind. Nick came back to us with additional options and we are so glad we incorporated these. Nick kept us in the loop while the build was underway the communication was great. The build was completed in a very short timeframe, nothing was too much trouble and our home was kept clean and tidy. We have no hesitation recommending these guys we are so happy we used Spanline Illawarra.
Photo from customer reviewPhoto from customer reviewPhoto from customer reviewPhoto from customer reviewPhoto from customer reviewPhoto from customer reviewPhoto from customer review
Scott Harper
3 weeks ago
We had a extension put onto the rear of our home with a FANTASTIC RESULT. I had a great consultation with Jamie. The process from start to finish was very easy and would highly recommend Spanline mid North Coast
Peter Ritchie
4 weeks ago
Certainly recommend this company for any alterations or additions to a property. Hard to get good reliable workmanship these days, Mid Coast Span Line provided an excellent service and great results.

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